. 002 [Video]

[gratefultogetaway]

[The video starts abruptly, as if by accident. Anya is in the bedroom of her tiny apartment, on her knees, digging through a trunk in a state of panic. The room itself is in a state of disarray, with clothes strewn everywhere, sheets ripped off the bed, furniture moved in strange locations...]

No no nononono, it has to be here, it has to be...! I had it last night, where is it...?

[Whatever she's looking for, it's not in the chest, and she lets out what sounds like a frustrated sob, turning the chest over before curling in on herself.]

I can't have lost it...I can't have...it's all I've got left...

[She lets out another sob, before looking up and realizing the camera is on. The sorrow on her face is immediately replaced by anger, and she moves to grab the device. There's a tattoo on her face that wasn't there before, but she doesn't seem to notice or care about that.]

Okay, which one of you took it? Which one of you stole my necklace? I swear, when I find where it is, when I find out who took it, I will make you regret even THINKING about touching it.

[She's very, VERY pissed, and the video gets cut off before she can threaten you all properly.]

[ooc: Anya's got Chakotay's tattoo today, and he's got her Together in Paris necklace, which she is pretty pissed about not having.]

Comments

video;

[chakotay]

[ he's just going to be hoping this is a curse and not something else. how else could she have gotten his tattoo and so perfectly, too? it was gone from his face, something he'd noticed early in the morning when he'd woken up. his expression and tone might be controlled, but there's an anger burning deep inside. not an anger at her. whoever she is, he can't imagine she would have the power to strip him of something so important, a defining part of who he is. no, he's angry with the city, with this place, with being separated from everyone but kathryn and harry, with being even farther away from home and his people and all those maquis who had died in the war he was supposed to be helping them fight.

having the mark of his tribe taken away from him, a mark he wore to honor his father and their heritage, just made everything that much worse. ]

I know this will do little to calm your anger, but I think I have what you're looking for. [ he's got it all right, and he holds up the necklace for her to see. it's carried gingerly, carefully resting on a soft cloth, the fabric of his civilian clothes, as though he hasn't wanted to touch it or risk denting it somehow. he has respect for things that aren't his and even though he's very clearly wearing it, he wants to make sure it will be safe and clean. ]

Somehow, I think you've also got something of mine. Maybe we can come to some sort of trade? Every time I try to take the necklace off, it goes right back where it was. I can keep it safe for you, assuming it really is yours, until we meet, but I think a face-to-face meeting would be best.

[ more to the point, he's not going to just give the necklace to anyone to give to her. it's under his protection now and that's what's important. ]

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

[She's about to snap at him, but she sees her necklace, and her eyes go wide with relief.]

My necklace...! How...?

[She wants to accuse him of stealing it, but...he doesn't look like he did. She stares at him in confusion for a moment. What did she she have of his...?]

What are you...[Wait. Her reflection doesn't look quite right. She's got a...what is that, a tattoo?]

...well that's new. This is your tattoo? How did I get it, though...?

[Wait. Is this one of those curse things?]

Yeah, sure...if we can figure out how to give this back to you, I'll trade.

...thank you. For keeping my necklace safe.

video;

[chakotay]

I wish I knew. You probably got that the same way I got your necklace.

[ he really is trying to keep it in as pristine condition as he can manage and he offers her a small smile, all that he can force out of this unpleasant situation. ]

It's a very nice necklace. [ strange to him, but nice. ] Would you be willing to meet me by the fountain? I'm afraid that's the landmark I'm most familiar with.

[ lies, it isn't, but for this? he can make that story work. ]

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

This is one of those curse things, isn't it.

[She looks rather grumpy about that, but her face softens at the compliment about her necklace.]

Thank you...and yeah, the fountain. 20 minutes?

video;

[chakotay]

If it is, it's not a very pleasant one.

[ he's good at getting people to relax. hopefully that can translate to them both, as he'd hate to have a fight break out over something that could be easily fixed. ]

Sounds good. I'll be right there.

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

It has to be...how else could I end up with your tattoo? Sorry about that, by the way...

[She nods, giving him a small smile.]

Same.

[And the video cuts off as she heads out.]

video; ---> action;

[chakotay]

I can't blame you for that any more than you can blame me for suddenly having your necklace.

[ but he gives a nod in response and heads off to the fountain. he's quick and there as fast as he can be, waiting for her. at least they made visual contact before running off so he knows who to look for. ]

action;

[gratefultogetaway]

[She heads off, quick as she can, and she'll be waiting by the edge of the fountain, trying not to poke at her face too much. It's weird to her, having something there she can't see.]

action;

[chakotay]

[ meanwhile it's just as weird to him to not have something on his face. he recognizes her immediately, making his way over. ]

I think we each have something that belongs to the other. You might want to try getting the necklace off. It doesn't work when I try.

video;

[mortemscintilla]

...Um. Miss Anya?

There's something on your face. [ So helpful, Li. ]

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

[She just shoots the camera a look.]

What?

[Then she sees that oh, yes, she does have something on his face.]

Oh. I guess I do. Huh.

video;

[mortemscintilla]

I'm guessing it's not one of those drunken-night, bad-decision type tattoos.

[ She doesn't seem the type. ]

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

Nope. This isn't mine, and I did't get drunk last night.

[She's got a very high alcohol tolerance.]

video;

[mortemscintilla]

[ Figures. Damn you Russians. ]

In that case, it might be a curse.

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

[Damn her and her high alcohol tolerance!]

Probably...I had my necklace on last night. How else could somebody just steal it from around my neck?

video;

[mortemscintilla]

[ The obsession with the necklace is more than a little telling. ]

You seem really attached to the thing. Is it expensive?

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

I don't know. Maybe, I guess.

It's all I've got from before the orphanage. It's important.

video;

[yourbestguysgun]

I can ask around the station, see if anyone's left it in?

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

[Deep breaths, Anya, deep breaths. She nods, giving Bucky a very weak smile.]

I'd like that, actually...thanks, Bucky.

video;

[yourbestguysgun]

[ He smiles and it's soft and encouraging. ]

What does it look like?

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

[She's finally starting to calm down now, thank you Bucky.]

It's gold. On one side, there's a blue flower with a red center, and on the other side is all gold, with the words 'Together in Paris' on it. It's on a little gold chain...

I don't understand how I could've lost it...I never take it off...

video;

[yourbestguysgun]

Could be the City messing with you? [ He knows what this place is like. ] You never know, it could just show up the next morning.

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

I...I hope not. I hope I just misplaced it or something...

[She's starting to get upset again. If she lost it...if it's gone...]

...yeah. No, yeah. It'll show up again. It has to.

video;

[yourbestguysgun]

It will, don't worry.

[ Because the City likes to play tricks, doesn't it? ] Call me if you find it. I'll keep looking in the meantine.

video;

[gratefultogetaway]

I'll let you know as soon as I do.

Thanks, Bucky. You're ace, you know that?